Town will be ‘OK’ amid state budget shortfall

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By: Keith Regan, Contributing Writer

Northborough – Cuts to some local aid budgets are possible in the current and coming fiscal year, but Northborough’s financial plan will be “OK,” Town Administrator John Coderre told selectmen at their meeting Jan. 26.

Coderre said he and other municipal leaders who attended a recent meeting with the Baker Administration were hoping for some insight into how a current state budget deficit that is estimated to be around $750 million – and could be even higher – will affect communities.

“We were sort of sitting on pins and needles hoping for some glimpse into state aid for fiscal year 2015 … and also some perspective into what their thoughts might be on next year,” Coderre said. With the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) meeting happening just two weeks into the administration, however, “there was very little information.”

Cities and towns were assured that the governor intends to protect core state aid accounts – Chapter 70 education funding and lottery payouts – in efforts to make up the current year’s shortfall. Although those accounts make up around 90 percent of state aid, Northborough also receives funds for regional transportation funds as well as so-called circuit-breaker payouts for the school budget.

“They are still on the table,” Coderre said. “It’s not horrible news in general.”

The town is in good shape to handle the reductions, Coderre added. While budget season itself may be complicated by the relatively late arrival of the new governor’s budget, he remains “confident” that a budget can be brought to Town Meeting that “does right by all departments.”

“We’re not going to see numbers until March,” he said. “It’s going to be a two-stepper. By the time we finally understand where what, if anything, will be cut this year, it will very quickly have a ripple effect on the budget for the fiscal year that starts in July.”

“We will be OK,” he said. “Northborough will be OK.”

 

 

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